Frequently Asked Questions

If you’ve ever taken a sip of tap water in Las Vegas and thought, “something’s off…” — you’re not imagining it.

Most of our water comes from Lake Mead, and while it’s perfectly safe to drink, the taste is another story.

Here’s why:

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Heavy Minerals = That Chalky Taste

Las Vegas water is considered very hard, meaning it’s loaded with calcium and magnesium.

That’s what gives it that:

• Dry, chalky feel
• Slightly bitter aftertaste

It’s also what leaves white buildup on faucets, dishes, and inside your plumbing.

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Chlorine Treatment = Pool-Like Flavor

The Southern Nevada Water Authority uses chlorine to disinfect the water.

That keeps it safe—but it also adds:

• A chemical smell
• A “swimming pool” taste

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🔁 Recycled Water System

Las Vegas is one of the most efficient cities in the world when it comes to water reuse.

Water is treated, returned to Lake Mead, and reused. It’s highly purified—but many people still notice a difference in taste.

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High TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)

All those minerals and dissolved particles add up to what’s called TDS.

Higher TDS can make water taste:

• Slightly salty
• Metallic
• “Heavy” compared to bottled water

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The Truth: It’s Safe… But It Doesn’t Have to Taste Like That

You don’t have to settle for bad-tasting water.

With the right system, you can have:

• Clean, crisp drinking water
• No chlorine taste or smell
• No mineral aftertaste
• Better coffee, ice, and cooking

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The Fix (What Actually Works in Vegas)

• Carbon filtration → removes chlorine taste
• Water softeners → handle the hardness
• Reverse osmosis systems → remove up to 95–99% of dissolved solids

That’s the gold standard if you want bottled-water quality right from your tap.

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Want Better Water at Home?

At H2O To Go, we’ve been helping Las Vegas families fix their water since 1981. We know exactly what’s in it—and how to remove it.

If you’re tired of dealing with:

• Bad taste
• White scale buildup
• Dry skin and spotty dishes

Visit h2otogo.net to see your options or schedule a quick water test.

Family Owned and Operated Since 1981

For over 40 years, H2O To Go has been a family-owned and operated water treatment company dedicated to helping Las Vegas families enjoy cleaner, better-tasting water.

Since 1981, our mission has been simple: provide honest advice, reliable equipment, and dependable service. Unlike large national chains, we believe water treatment should be personal, transparent, and tailored to each home. When you call H2O To Go, you’re not dealing with a call center — you’re speaking directly with people who care about the quality of your water and the comfort of your home.

Over the decades, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners throughout the Las Vegas Valley solve common water problems such as:

• Hard water and scale buildup
• Chlorine taste and odor
• Drinking water quality concerns
• Mineral spotting on dishes and fixtures

Because we’ve worked with Las Vegas water for so many years, we understand the unique challenges of Southern Nevada’s extremely hard water and design systems specifically to handle it.

Our reputation has been built one customer at a time through honesty, fair pricing, and dependable service. Many of our customers have been with us for decades, and we are proud that much of our business comes from referrals and repeat customers.

When you choose H2O To Go, you’re not just buying a water system — you’re working with a local family business that stands behind its work.

H2O To Go – Serving Las Vegas Families Since 1981.

Many homeowners in Las Vegas buy bottled water because they prefer the taste over regular tap water. While bottled water can be convenient, the long-term cost often surprises people. A reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water system can provide clean, great-tasting water at a fraction of the cost.

Understanding the price difference between bottled water and reverse osmosis can help homeowners decide which option makes more sense for their household.

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Why People Buy Bottled Water

Las Vegas municipal water is safe to drink, but it often contains higher levels of dissolved minerals and chlorine compared to many other cities. This can affect taste and odor.

Because of this, many residents turn to bottled water for:

• better taste
• convenience
• perceived purity

However, the cost of bottled water can add up quickly over time.

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The True Cost of Bottled Water

The average price of bottled water varies depending on the brand, but a common price for a 24-pack of 16.9 oz bottles is around $6 to $8.

Each bottle contains about half a liter, meaning a 24-pack equals roughly 3.17 gallons of water.

That means bottled water often costs around:

$2 to $3 per gallon

Now consider typical household consumption.

If a family drinks just 2 gallons of bottled water per day, their yearly cost would look something like this:

Daily Use	Yearly Cost
1 gallon per day	$730–$1,095
2 gallons per day	$1,460–$2,190
3 gallons per day	$2,190–$3,285

Over several years, the total can reach thousands of dollars.

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The Cost of Reverse Osmosis Water

A reverse osmosis system filters water through multiple stages, including a semi-permeable membrane that removes dissolved solids, chlorine, and many contaminants.

Typical costs include:

Initial system installation:
$300 – $900 depending on the system

Annual filter replacement:
$60 – $150 per year

Once installed, an RO system can produce water for only a few cents per gallon.

For example:

Water Source	Cost Per Gallon
Bottled water	$2 – $3
Reverse osmosis	$0.05 – $0.15

This means RO water can be 20–50 times cheaper than bottled water.

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Long-Term Savings Example

Consider a household that drinks 2 gallons of water per day.

Bottled water cost per year:
Approximately $1,460 – $2,190

Reverse osmosis cost per year:
About $60 – $150 for filters

Over five years, the difference can be dramatic:

Water Source	5-Year Cost
Bottled water	$7,300 – $10,950
Reverse osmosis	$600 – $1,200

For many families, the RO system can pay for itself within the first year or two.

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Convenience Benefits

In addition to cost savings, reverse osmosis systems offer convenience benefits.

Homeowners can enjoy:

• unlimited drinking water from the tap
• no heavy water bottle lifting
• no trips to the store
• fresh water for cooking, coffee, and ice

Filtered water is available anytime directly from a dedicated faucet at the kitchen sink.

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Environmental Considerations

Plastic bottle waste is another factor many homeowners consider. Millions of plastic bottles end up in landfills every year, and recycling rates remain relatively low.

Using a home reverse osmosis system can significantly reduce plastic waste while still providing high-quality drinking water.

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Which Option Makes More Sense?

Both bottled water and reverse osmosis provide clean drinking water, but the long-term costs are very different.

For many Las Vegas households, a reverse osmosis system offers:

• dramatically lower cost
• improved water taste
• unlimited supply
• reduced plastic waste

Over time, switching from bottled water to reverse osmosis can save thousands of dollars while providing convenient access to purified drinking water right from the tap.

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One of the biggest problems caused by hard water is scale buildup, also called limescale. This white, chalky material forms when dissolved minerals in water go through a chemical reaction that turns them into solid deposits.

Understanding the chemistry behind this process helps explain why hard water causes buildup in pipes, appliances, and fixtures throughout homes in places like Las Vegas, where water hardness is very high.

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Dissolved Minerals in Hard Water

Hard water contains dissolved minerals, mainly:

• Calcium (Ca²⁺)
• Magnesium (Mg²⁺)

In natural water systems, these minerals often exist in the form of calcium bicarbonate and magnesium bicarbonate.

These compounds stay dissolved in water under normal conditions, meaning the water can carry them through plumbing systems without immediately forming deposits.

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What Happens When Water Is Heated

When hard water is heated—such as inside a water heater, dishwasher, or coffee maker—a chemical reaction occurs.

Calcium bicarbonate breaks down into three components:

• Calcium carbonate (solid scale)
• Carbon dioxide gas
• Water

The chemical reaction looks like this:

Ca(HCO₃)₂ → CaCO₃ + CO₂ + H₂O

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is the white, solid material that forms limescale deposits.

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Why Scale Sticks to Surfaces

Calcium carbonate is not very soluble in water, especially at higher temperatures. When the reaction occurs, the calcium carbonate crystals begin attaching themselves to nearby surfaces such as:

• heating elements
• pipes
• faucet aerators
• dishwashers
• shower heads

Once the first layer forms, additional minerals easily attach to the existing buildup, gradually creating thicker deposits.

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Why Heat Accelerates Scale Formation

Heating water speeds up scale formation for two main reasons:

1️⃣ Reduced gas solubility – When water is heated, carbon dioxide escapes more easily. This pushes the chemical reaction toward forming solid calcium carbonate.

2️⃣ Faster precipitation – Higher temperatures make it easier for dissolved minerals to crystallize into solid form.

This is why scale forms fastest in:

• water heaters
• coffee machines
• dishwashers
• tankless water heaters

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Why Las Vegas Homes See Heavy Scale

Las Vegas water commonly measures 15–18 grains per gallon, which means there is a high concentration of calcium and magnesium available to form scale.

Over time, this can lead to:

• thick mineral buildup on fixtures
• clogged shower heads
• reduced water heater efficiency
• restricted plumbing pipes

Even a thin layer of scale inside a water heater can significantly reduce heat transfer efficiency.

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How Water Softeners Prevent the Reaction

Water softeners remove calcium and magnesium ions before the water enters your plumbing system.

They do this using ion exchange, where hardness minerals are replaced with sodium or potassium ions.

Without calcium and magnesium present, the chemical reaction that produces calcium carbonate cannot occur, which prevents scale from forming in the first place.

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Why This Matters for Homeowners

Understanding the chemistry behind scale explains why hard water problems are so persistent in regions with high mineral content.

Preventing scale formation can help:

• extend appliance lifespan
• maintain water heater efficiency
• reduce plumbing maintenance
• keep fixtures looking clean

For many homes in Southern Nevada, water treatment systems are one of the most effective ways to manage the long-term effects of hard water chemistry.

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